Month: September 2015

Lore is a facebook type learning platform that provides students with the ability to create a learning profile, communicate with classmates and instructors, share with one another, discuss course work and presentations, join academic communities and groups, and use synchronous messaging to anyone in their network. This app also allows for document uploading, sharing calendars, and it has a gradebook option. The best part about this app and why it would be more beneficial than Facebook is their interaction with classmates and instructors would be free from the embarrassing photos and posts that take place on Facebook.

It seemed very appropriate that I found this technology due to us discussion social networking in this week’s discussion. A technology such as Lore would definitely be advantages to utilize in education because it appears to be more secure and safer than Facebook.

Study Blue is an app that allows students to organize class work, store notes, develop and store flashcards, and share materials with other students. It is a mobile app that is accessible from anywhere on a variety of mobile technologies. For example, study blue is accessible on Smartphone’s, so studying can happen anywhere. Also, in addition to enabling students to make flashcards this technology allows students to create their own quizzes, study reminders, and stats on their studying which measure their mastery of the material so that they remain focused.

Study Blue would be highly beneficial to a non-traditional student such as myself. I do not have the time to sit in front of my computer or laptop at my convenience so creating and accessing this information over my phone would really help me in being prepared for my courses.

A truly remarkable emerging technology is augmented reality (AR). Imagine learning in an environment where paintings come to life and become interactive as they did in the Harry Potter movies. Augmented reality enables educators to create such an environment for the students. AR provides the capability create layers of digital information on top of physical objects that can be viewed using an Android or iOS device. It is widely known that learning deepens when students become interactive and create instead of just reading and listening. AR technology such as Elements 4D and Anatomy 4D allow students to manipulate elements and explore the human anatomy.

AR can be very valuable in an educational setting because it enhances student engagement and enables them to bring their learning to life. This technology could be used for homework lessons. For example, when students scan a homework page they would see a video of their instructor assisting them. It could also be used for word walls, which is students providing definitions to words and putting them on the wall. Another student can then use an AR app and a video of their classmate giving the definition of the word would pop up. AR would be helpful in providing a video overlay that shows how to sign a word or phrase for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Do not assume that AR is just another fad because learning is enhanced when students engage in creating, sharing, interacting, and explaining. This technology appears to be poised for long-term use.

Institutions of higher learning have utilized the traditional form of simulation for years through activities such as role-playing, however simulation based on technology is less widely accepted. A couple of exceptions to this practice is medical school and the aviation industry. Simulation technology actually dates back to the origins of the modern airplane when they would train pilots by sitting them in the glider of a plane while they faced strong winds. Simulation technology was designed to train pilots in a safe, realistic environment. Technology has been utilized as an effective training tool for the military, nuclear energy, and other high-risk industries. High risk industries are not the only institutions or agencies that have adopted simulation technology. Medical schools now routinely integrate simulation technology into their curriculum.

Simulation technology can be an invaluable tool in educating students. It can be integrated into course curriculums for any course. It actively engages students and allows them to practice skill sets and apply what they have learned. Also, it provides valuable flexibility in learning by providing the option of slowing the learning process down or repeating it. It would also provide a safe learning environment and allow students to engage in situations that would otherwise not be safe or cost efficient.

A fast emerging technology in education is 3D-Printing. The innovation behind this new technology is that it allows an individual to create a three dimensional product from a digital file. Also, it allows for almost unlimited customization and it is protected by copyright. This unique technology turns passive consumers into active creators.

3D-Printing has the potential to play an extremely important role in education and although schools are just beginning to adopt this technology, the benefits will surely lead to more widespread use. This technology provides instructors with 3D visual aids and it enhances student learning by doing. It provides students with the capability to make 3 dimensional mini-models which would be beneficial in fields such as engineering, architecture, and biology.

A rather intriguing emerging technology is SMART Amp. SMART Amp is cloud based software that allows learners to collaborate in an interactive workspace. This technology does not need to be installed nor does it require the updating of applications. It is accessible from most devices with internet capability and it eliminates the difficulty of multi platforms such as BYOD.

A few identified SMART Amp capabilities are:

It allows for project based learning, student led learning, collaborative learning, personalized based and inquiry based learning.

Innovative method of obtaining content off of personalized devices

Live collaboration and real time sharing

Files live in the cloud so there would be no loss of information if computer crashes

Allows for splitting into multi-classroom groups.

This emerging technology effectively builds a bridge, connecting diverse personalized devices in a collaborative workplace setting for students and teachers.

The first emerging technology I would like to discuss is Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing is a method of storing and accessing data over the internet instead of using your computer hard drive to store or access information. Storing data on your computer hard drive is considered to be local storage and computing. Cloud Computing is considered to be accessing data or programs over the internet. This type of technology can be utilized anywhere and at anytime with an online connection.

I selected this technology because it is one of the top emerging technologies with approximately 90% of organizations utilizing some form of cloud-based applications. Furthermore, Cloud Computing has the potential to effect great change in online and traditional educational settings.

Cloud computing has resulted in great positive change to education and the immediate benefits are clear. It eliminates the need for expensive textbooks, eliminates learning material that is outdated, eliminates expensive hardware and software, and it reaches more and more diverse students. Cloud computing could effectively incorporated in an educational setting through collaborative projects and homework assignments. Students will be able to work on collaborative projects at their convenience outside of the classroom and access homework which would eliminate the need for teachers to take up class time to assign or go over homework.

Hologram is an emerging technology that is quickly progressing towards being applied in classroom settings. They are 3-dimensional images formed by laser light beams or other light sources. This technology is still in it’s beginning stages but is identified as an emerging technology that will become more prevalent in the near future. I selected to discuss this technology because it has the potential to increase student interest and engagement by adding vibrancy to the learning process.

Holograms have the potential to impact education through remote collaboration that will give the feeling of face-to-face interaction; allow students to conduct science experiments that would otherwise be too dangerous; allow students to research history in 3-D and allow students to conduct virtual field trips; allow students to design a 3-D project and print in 3-D; and would allow teachers to give lessons a multitude of classrooms in multiple geographical locations at the same time.

Holograms could potentially be incorporated in history lessons by giving the students the ability to take virtual tours of historic sites such as battlefields or castles. It would also be highly beneficial to teachers by allowing them to teach more students at the same time which would ensure consistency of the flow of information.